15 Engineering Challenges for High School Students

Key Takeaways

• These 15 competitions span a wide range of engineering disciplines, from aerospace and robotics through NASA’s Rover Challenge and FIRST Robotics to sustainable design through Shell’s Eco-Marathon and the GENIUS Olympiad.
• Formats vary considerably, from team-based build competitions like VEX Robotics and the American Rocketry Challenge to research and innovation submissions like the Davidson Fellows Scholarship and ISEF.
• Costs range widely, with several free options like NASA’s Dream With Us Challenge and the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, while others, like the Conrad Challenge and FIRST Robotics, require registration fees running into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Many of these competitions are multi-tiered, requiring you to advance through regional or state-level rounds before reaching a national or international final, so timelines can stretch across several months or even a full academic year.
• If you want to pursue an independent, mentored research project rather than a team-based engineering competition, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a path toward a formal academic paper across fields like engineering, data science, and applied mathematics.

If you’re interested in engineering, there’s no better way to explore the field than by actually designing, building, and solving real-world problems. While summer programs, internships, and research opportunities can provide you with such hands-on experiences, engineering challenges offer something more – a unique opportunity to apply your knowledge and test it in the real world. Competitions allow you to work within real design constraints, experience setbacks, refine your solution, and enhance your technical skills in the process. 

What do engineering challenges include?

Engineering challenges for high school students come in a variety of formats. While some require you to present a piece of original research, others will invite you to investigate a problem and develop a solution. Depending on the competition, you may explore disciplines ranging from aerospace and mechanical engineering to civil, electrical, biomedical, environmental, and software engineering. Whether you’re just beginning to explore engineering or looking for your next challenge, these competitions can help you take your skills to the next level. 

Here are 15 engineering challenges for high school students.

You can also check out these guides on university research programs, engineering camps, or free engineering programs for high school students!

1. NASA’s Dream With Us Design Challenge

NASA’s Dream With Us Design Challenge is a high school engineering challenge that tasks you with working in teams to solve a real-world issue in the field of aviation. Each year comes with a different theme, focusing on issues like agriculture or natural disaster response. As a participant, you and your team must use new aviation technology like drones or air taxis to solve a problem within this area. Previous winners have worked on ideas like an AI-powered drone that can detect pests and a solar-powered drone that can battle wildfires. In addition to ideating and designing a solution, you will also develop a business and marketing plan for the final product. 

2. International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is a prestigious STEM research competition that brings together high school students from around the world to present their original research projects. You may submit a project in one of 22 categories, which include engineering options like biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, robotics, civil engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, and more. However, this is a multi-tiered competition that requires you to win at a regional level in order to compete. You should also keep in mind that this is a competitive program that has an acceptance rate of about 2-5%.   

3. FIRST Robotics Competition

This robotics competition tasks you with designing and building industrial-sized robots in teams. You will work with up to 20 students and 2 adult coaches, developing a robot that will later compete with other robots in an action-packed game (each year focuses on a different theme). You and your team will also create a team identity and learn how to raise funds to meet your goals. The program also involves mentorship sessions and courses on programming, robot building, team management, and more. 

4. Davidson Fellows Scholarship

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is a prestigious competition that awards high school students who have completed a significant piece of academic work. The competition looks for work that has the potential to make a positive contribution to society and must fall in one of the eight available categories: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy, and “Outside the Box.” Each category has its own requirements, such as a research report, visual model, or creative portfolio. You can apply independently or in teams of two.  

5. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program is an innovation challenge during which you must use STEM to make a positive impact on society. As a participant, you will work in teams under the guidance of an adult mentor (a teacher from your school) and work with AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. Previous winners have submitted projects like an IoT-monitored water purification system and an AI system that can detect wildfires. The program includes a video submission and a social media voting phase, culminating in a final pitch event where you present your work to a panel of judges. Winners also receive the opportunity to work with Samsung employees.

6. American Rocketry Challenge

The American Rocketry Challenge is a year-long model rocketry competition for middle and high school students. The competition provides you with the chance to design, build, and launch a model rocket within a specific set of rules. The 2026 challenge tasks you with building a rocket that can carry an egg to a certain height and then bring it back down, unbroken. The program has multiple stages, including qualification flights, a video submission, and a national fly-off event.  

7. NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge

NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge is a nine-month engineering competition that challenges school and college students to design and build rovers. During the program, you and your team must build a human-powered or remote-controlled rover that can traverse a half-mile course mimicking lunar territory, including obstacles like simulated asteroid debris and crevices. The process mirrors NASA’s engineering design lifecycle, and the tasks are based on real challenges faced during NASA missions. The program consists of multiple stages of review before a final excursion testing your rover. 

8. VEX Robotics Competition

The VEX Robotics Competition tasks you with designing and building a robot that can compete in a specific game. The high school track in 2026 involves a game in which robots must stack pins and cups on a board, with specific directions for the colors of the pins. You can go through all the rules here. The program includes competitions at the local, regional, and national levels, culminating in a world championship event in April. The program may also include other challenges involving CAD, animation, and even essays. 

9. Space Center Houston’s Conrad Challenge

The Space Center Houston’s Conrad Challenge is an innovation competition in which you must develop a solution to a real-world issue. There are several different areas to choose from, and students interested in engineering can choose to tackle either the Cyber Technology and Security category or the Aerospace and Aviation category. Previous students have worked on projects like an LLM-powered headset that can help stroke patients communicate and an autonomous magnetic take-off and landing system. The program begins with an activation stage and an innovation stage, after which finalists get to move on to the innovation summit and pitch their solution to a panel of judges.  

10. Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

The ExploraVision Competition is a science competition that challenges middle and high school students to envision what a current technology may look like 10 years in the future. For this competition, you will work in teams of 2-4 students (guided by an adult coach) and engage in real research and development, tracing the various stages and obstacles of your product. Your final submission must include an abstract, description, bibliography, and five sample web pages. Examples of previous projects include a robot that can clean ash from a chimney and a device that can help people regain movement in their limbs.  

11. Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

This competition tasks you with making a Rube Goldberg machine, a device that solves a simple problem in the most complicated way possible. Each year, the competition chooses a specific task, and participants must design and build a chain reaction machine using everyday objects that can complete the task. The machine must have at least 10 steps and can’t involve dominoes or marbles. Your machine must be portable so that you can attend all the different levels of the competition, leading up to a world championship. This challenge is a good way of testing your understanding of mechanical engineering principles. 

12. Shell’s Eco-Marathon

Shell’s Eco-Marathon is an engineering competition that brings together sustainable engineering and innovation by challenging students to design, build, and test energy-efficient cars. You can choose between two tracks: the Mileage Challenge, in which each vehicle must complete a fixed number of laps around the track, and the Autonomous Driving Challenge, which tests vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities. You will get plenty of hands-on experience in fields like mechanical engineering, energy management, electrical systems, and more. If you get through the regional levels of the competition, you might get a chance to compete at the Global Championship. You can go through previous students’ work here.

13. GENIUS Olympiad

The GENIUS Olympiad is an international competition that requires participants to develop solutions to environmental issues through one of nine available disciplines. As a student interested in engineering, you can choose AI, coding, science, or robotics as your area of research, as these will allow you to explore the role of engineering in sustainability. Each discipline has its own format; for example, in the robotics category, the competition is based on how much debris your robot can clean. On the other hand, the AI category includes a hackathon during which you must develop a web application or software that tackles an environmental issue. 

14. Future City Competition

Future City High School is an engineering program that challenges you to use the engineering design process to envision a future city that solves a particular environmental problem. The theme for 2026 is “Fire Resilient Future,” which means you would have to design a city that can prevent, protect, and recover from urban wildfires. Your deliverables will include a digital model of the city, an essay describing the city and the environmental solution, and a 7-minute presentation to a panel of professionals. You will work in teams of 3-5 students and be supported by an adult coach. 

15. Science Olympiad

The Science Olympiad is a national STEM competition that offers several different challenges in a range of fields like physical science, technology, earth science, social science, and more. If you’re interested in engineering, you can opt for the category of technology and engineering, which includes challenges like constructing free-flight rubber-powered monoplanes, developing a vehicle that uses electrical energy, and building a cantilevered beam. This is a tiered competition, and after winning the state-level contest, you can apply for the national event. You can start by applying to the State Chapter near you. 

One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program

If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like investigative journalism, media studies, political reporting, data journalism, and the ethics of news and information, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of engineering challenges are available to high school students?

You’ll find a mix of formats, including robotics competitions like FIRST Robotics and VEX Robotics, aerospace-focused challenges like NASA’s Dream With Us Design Challenge and the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, and innovation competitions like Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and the Conrad Challenge. There are also research-based options like ISEF and the Davidson Fellows Scholarship, if you’d rather present original research than build a physical device.

Do you need prior engineering experience to apply?

Most of these competitions don’t require prior engineering experience, since many are designed to teach design and build skills through the process itself. That said, competitions like ISEF require you to have already won at a regional level, and research-based options like the Davidson Fellows Scholarship expect a significant, already-completed piece of academic work.

Are there free options available?

Yes, several competitions on this list don’t charge a fee. NASA’s Dream With Us Design Challenge, NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge, Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision, and Shell’s Eco-Marathon are all free to participate in. Others, like FIRST Robotics and the Conrad Challenge, do charge registration or participation fees.

Which competitions offer the largest prizes?

ISEF offers cash prizes of up to $100,000, and the American Rocketry Challenge and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow also offer awards reaching $100,000. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship offers scholarships up to $100,000 as well, making these among the highest-value competitions on this list if prize money is a consideration.

Which competitions are team-based rather than individual?

Most of these competitions require teamwork. FIRST Robotics has you work with up to 20 students and 2 adult coaches, NASA’s Dream With Us Challenge and Rover Challenge both require small teams, and Future City requires teams of 3 to 5 students supported by an adult coach. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is one of the few exceptions, allowing you to apply either independently or in a team of two.

Is there a way to pursue independent research instead of a team-based competition?

Yes. If you’d rather work one-on-one with a mentor on an original research project than compete in a team-based engineering challenge, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to develop a 20-page research paper you can submit for academic publication. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, and covers over 600 research specializations. You can find the application here.

When should you apply?

Deadlines for these competitions are spread throughout the year, so it helps to plan ahead. NASA’s Dream With Us Design Challenge has one of the earliest deadlines at December 8, followed by the American Rocketry Challenge (December 6) and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (November 24). February and March bring a wave of deadlines, including the Davidson Fellows Scholarship (February 18), Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision (February 3), and the GENIUS Olympiad (March 1). Horizon, by contrast, has multiple deadlines throughout the year across its Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, giving you more flexibility if you miss an earlier cutoff.

Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program